Incandescent-lamp manipulator.



R.' H; BERKSTRESSER INCNDESCENT LAMP MANIPULTOR,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1o, 1909.

977, l 5&9 Patented Nov, 29;l T1910.

ML /TTORNEY vUNITED sTATEsri-tranr caricia ROBERT H. BERKSTRESS-ER, OFYORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

INCANDESCENT-LAMP MANIPULATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. latgnged Nov. 29, 1910.

Application tiled June 10, 1909. Serial No. 501,401.

' candescent-Lamp Manipulators, of which is a short tubular section 5",and in the up.

the following is a specification.

My invention relates to incandescent lamp manipulators. v

The present invention relates to that class of devices which areintended for removing incandescent lamp bulbs from their sockets orreplacing them therein and seeks to provide a device of the charactersetI forth which will be of simple; light, durable, and inexpensiveconstruction, whose handle will be adapted to be .extended to ditferentlengths, which cali be arranged with its gripping fingers housed orprotected when not in use, will have'improved'means for automaticallyoperating the gripping fingers, and will be so constructed that it maybe readily carried about.

Other objects of the `invention will more fully appear from thefollowing descrip; tion wherein the construction is' setV forth indetaihand t-he appended claims recite the novel features.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is an elevation-of the devicewhen the handle is in extended condition. Fig. 2, an enlarged view,showing 'the head in section; Fig. 3, a sectional detail showing one ofthe catches; and Fig. 4, a. similar view showing the Windlass.

The handle is preferably composed of a plurality of tubular telescopingsections 1 which are provided with series of openings 2 (Fig. 3) andsnap catches 3 to engage them, whereby the sections may be extended ortelescoped to different degrees and secured where positioned. Thus, thehandle maybe arranged in cbmpact form for transportation or may beextended as desired,

. according to the height of the lamp which is to be manipulated.Screwed into the uppermost section 1, as at 4, Fig. 2, is preferablyprovideda section 5 composed of superposed .iiexible spirals, enablingthe handle to be flexedv to any desired extent throughout the length ofthe section 5. Suitably fixed in the upper end of sectiprn per end ofthis section there is screwed at 6 a. tubular container 7, a disk 8being held thereby 'at the joint thereof. Slidable.

through a central opening in the disk is a stenr) whose upper end 10slides through an aperture in the end of the container 7, whereby thestem 9 is guided in-its'rnovements.. Said stem carries a spreader 11 of`substantially inverted conical form having ra head or shoulder 12. Acoiled spring -13 surrounds the stem 9 between thev end of the spreaderand the disk 8 and tends to.

force the spreader upwardly. Such action may be restrained by ay springactuated-push button catch 13a. The stem 9 audits spreader 11 may bedrawn downwardly against the tendency of the spring 13 Itov raise thesaine by a cord 14: which winds upon a windlassl, Fig. Ll. The'end ofthelowermost section l may be closed by a cap 16 having a suitable bayonetjoint in connection therewith. v Y

Other means than the windlass and cond may be used for retracting thestem.

Journaled in brackets at 17 on .the outside of the container 7 aregripping fingers 18 which are suitably formed so that they will beadapted to grasp the incandescent` lamp bulb 19 without injury thereto.These tingers are adapted to automatically open by reason` of theprovision of springs 20 but the ngers are provided with extensions 21which are adapted to play through slides in the side of the container 7in position for cooperation with the spreader 11.

At 22 there is shown a tubular housing whose lower part tits and isadapted to slide upon the container 7. This housing, for thev greaterpart of its length, is sufficiently large so that when itis drawnupwardly the fingers 18 will be closed therein, Whereby the fingers maybe readily covered and protected against injury when the device is notin use. To permit this sliding movement, I provide the housing with a.slot 23 in which the shank catch 13 is received.

When it is desired to remove a lamp, the catch 13 is depressed torelease the spreader 11 so that the ngers 18 will be spread by theirsprings 20. The device is then mani ulated to position the ngers 18around t e lamp 19, whereupon the operator turns the windlass 15 whichcauses the stem 9 to be drawn downwardly and the spreader 11 to pressupon and spread the extensions 21, causing the fingers 1 8 to grip thelamp, the head 12 imme iatel snap 1n past catch 13 so that the latterolds t e gers firmly ters Patent, is :e

l is

' grasping fingers pivoted to the upper portion thereof and havingextensions disposed below' their pivots and 1n the tubular handle,yielding means on the handle for throwing the lingers outward and the4depending extensions thereof inward, a cone-shaped spreader vdisposedand movable'erdwise between said extensions, means for operating saidspreader, connected therewith and extending to a point adjacent thelower end of the Ahand-le and adjustable housing for @aid fingers?.

'2,1m an'incandescent lamp manipulator,...

Ithe combination of a tubular handle, lampgrasping 4lingers pivoted tothe upper portion thereof and having extensions disposed below. theirvpivots and 1n the tubular handle, yielding means on the handle-forthrowing the fingers outward and thedepending e25- tensionsd thereof'inward, a s reader, of in,- vei-,ted con'e shaped, dispose and movableendwise between said extensions and having a stern guided 'n the handleand also having a beveled show. der, an abutment in the handie', ainfexansion spring 'interposed between ,the-sa er and said abutment,retracting' inieaiisconnentexlzto the Alower end of the spreader stemand extending to a point adjacent the lower end of the handle,:and aspring-pressed catch `mounted in the handle.

p the combination with a containenof movable ingers carried therebywhich are atla ted for grasping the lamp, and an adjusta le housing forsaid fingers.

4.- Inan incandescent lamp manipulator, the combination with acontainer, of movable fingers carried thereby which are ada ted forgrasping the lamp, and a housing for saidngers, said housing and fingersbeing adapted for rela'tive movement to cause the lingers to becontained within the housing or located outside of it.

5. In an incandescent lamp, manipulator, the combination with acontainer, of movable iingers carried thereby, and a housing slidable onsaid container and adapted to receive the fingers.

6. In an incandescent lamp manipulator, the combination with acontainer, of lamp grasping lingers pivoted thereto, and a movablespreader located within the container,

and coperating with said fingers, and a spring adapted to shift saidspreader a releasable `catch adapted to engagel the spreader and hold itagainst the action' of the vspring and adjustable housing for saidfingers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT H. BERKSTRESSER. Witnesses: DONALD H. .,Yosr, YJason E.'lll/rumen.v

